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Follow the 2006 Paddle to the Bay! At dawn on Monday July 24, 2006, Anacostia Watershed Society (AWS) President Robert Boone and four other kayakers set out from the Washington Naval Yard on AWS's annual paddle trip down the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers to the Chesapeake Bay. This year's group includes Ray Lane, Mary Lane, Lewis Bruchey and Elizabeth Moraff. Click here to learn more about the Paddle to the Bay program and how to join in next year! |
2006 Paddling Itinerary To read comments from the participants about events from any given day, click the the [Trip Log] link in the itinerary below. |
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Day 1: July 24—Depart Anacostia Boat House at 8:00 a.m. high tide. [Trip Log] Day 2: July 25—Depart Indian Head/Chapman Forest at 8:00 a.m. high tide. [Trip Log] Day 3: July 26—Depart Douglas Point/Clifton Beach, MD at 7:30 a.m. high tide. [Trip Log] Day 4: July 27—Depart St. Clements Island at 5:00 a.m. high tide. [Trip Log] Day 5: July 28—Depart Piney Point at 4:30 a.m. high tide. [Trip Log] Day 6: July 29—Take out time 12 noon at Point Lookout State Park [Trip Log] |
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After a hot day of travel on Monday, the group took advantage of overcast skies and a slight breeze to arrive at Douglas Point on Tuesday afternoon two hours ahead of schedule. Important sightings this time out include lots of submerged vegetation and monarch butterflies, six eagles, and a larger-than average bloom of white mallow along the waterway. The group also lamented that the amount of trash in and along the Potomac seemed to be greater than it had been in years. The first night of camp at Chapman Forest brought a chance encounter with a small herd of white-tail deer, as well as some time to reflect on the first day's events. A few of the paddlers remarked on the half-dozen industrial cranes laying the foundations of the new Nationals' ballpark despite the lack of resolution concerning groundwater at the site. According to Robert, the ladies are this year's champion paddlers. They've been leading the group out on the water the entire time. |
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Today the paddlers reported in via cell phone from the Potomac about 4 miles north of Tulip Point and 8 or 9 miles from their landing point this evening at Lower Cedar Point in Charles County, Maryland. After spending a soggy night camped out at Douglas Point, the group relayed the following reflections back home:
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This afternoon, the 2006 Paddle to the Bay team reported in while taking a break in the shade. Their next destination is the St. Clements Island Museum where all will stop for water and some richly-deserved slices of watermelon. According to group, the extreme heat today has made for some tough going, but the water conditions have been exceptionally calm. Robert remarked that the river's surface looked like glass throughout the morning and early afternoon hours. |
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Robert reports some bad news today. Because of yesterday's heat, Lew has chosen to end his trip to the Chesapeake a day early. He was picked up early this morning by AWS staff member Pat Gladding. Mary reports an encounter with the first large waves of the trip. Though some were uncomfortable at first, all members of the group quickly became accustomed to the ocean-like conditions. The day ended with a landing at St. George island where the group watched the sunset and some purple martins before heading to bed. The group reports a leisurely and successful 10 mile paddle from St. George Island to their final pull-out point at Point Lookout. After 5 days of relative isolation out on the river, the group arrived at Point Lookout Stat Park to find it alive with crowds of barbequers and beach-goers. |
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To learn more about the Anacostia Watershed Society, click here. To become a member of the Anacostia Watershed Society, click here. |
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